Conservation Commission 103 



(430,000) of denuded lands requiring and suitable for reforesta- 

 tion, and over twenty-nine million dollars ($29,000,000) on the 

 one million, seven hundred thousand acres of cut-over lands. 



" One-half of this loss would be sufficient to purchase all these 

 lands and defray the cost of planting such as require reforesta- 

 tion. 



" It may be that some of the figures taken are not without ques- 

 tion, yet we have endeavored to assume rates of growth, land 

 values, rates of tax, stumpage values and other conditions which 

 do not prejudice our argument. In some instances, higher figures 

 might well be taken, but if so, the State's loss would be greater. 

 Any errors of this kind will not materially vary the calculation 

 or fail to show the futility of such a law as an example of State 

 policy. 



" It is, however, apparent that the State could by one-half the 

 proposed expenditure acquire and reforest this area and thus be 

 the owner of the property. Whatever indirect benefits would re- 

 sult would similarly accrue under State ownership.' 7 



FOREST PRODUCT 



I again submit statistics showing our annual forest product. 

 These figures are for the year 1913, because it is impossible to 

 compile data of a current year in time to incorporate in the re- 

 port therefor. Reports have been received from all the known 

 mills in the State that operated last year. A comparison of the 

 total product with that of other years shows a continued decrease. 



Comparison of Forest Products by Years 



Year Feet B. M. 



1908 1,226,757,365 



1909 1,091,164,710 



1910 927,933,291 



1911 972,596,685 



1912 942,545,269 



1913 851,391,367 



